Question
Couldn't find an expert in this field, but hope you will be able to help. I have a Crepe Mrytle that I want to shape it to have a tree look, not a bush. When is the best time to do that and how would you do it? And again, thanks for the time, and hope you can help.  Ricky

Answer
Hey, Ricky.

Crepe myrtles are pretty adaptable to drastic pruning, so you should be able to prune at any time. If you do it right now, you'll miss out on the flowers that are due in a couple of weeks. The best thing to do, though, is not to do drastic pruning all at the same time to preven sending the bush/tree into shock. Rather cut one branch off this weekend and let it adapt to its missing branch. Cut another in a couple of weeks and let it adapt again. Make sure you cut any new growth in areas where you don't want it. That new growth, though, will be a sign that it has adapted to its loss. Do this during the growing season and you shouldn't have any problem. Make sure you water well while the bush/tree is recovering from losing a branch.

There are two other times that are good for drastic pruning:

late fall when all the hardwoods have lost their leaves梩hat's the sign that all the tree's sap is stored in the roots, and

very early spring before the hardwoods have started growing since all the tree's sap will still be stored in the roots.

My crepe myrtles here in San Diego never really lose all their leaves, but ours in Kingsville, Texas, where I grew up, did. Grandma used to drastically prune hers in Kingsville after the last winter Norther blew through and always had the most beautiful crepe myrtles full of blossoms.